Mixed Deck — All Audio Editing Topics Flashcards

What does 'LUFS' measure and why is it important for streaming platforms?

Answer: Loudness Units relative to Full Scale; streaming platforms use it to normalize loudness across all content

LUFS measures perceived loudness; platforms like Spotify (-14 LUFS) and YouTube (-14 LUFS) normalize all content to a target, penalizing over-loud masters by turning them down.

Which type of reverb plugin algorithm simulates the acoustic characteristics of a real physical space by using recorded impulse responses?

Answer: Convolution reverb

Convolution reverb uses recorded impulse responses (IRs) of real rooms, halls, or hardware units and mathematically convolves them with the audio signal to recreate that space.

Which mp3 file compression rate results in the highest audio fidelity:

Answer: 320 kbps

MP3 compression is a lossy process, meaning it discards some audio information to reduce file size. A higher bitrate, such as 320 kbps (kilobits per second), means less information is discarded, resulting in a larger file size but significantly higher audio fidelity that is often indistinguishable from uncompressed audio for most listeners. Lower bitrates result in more aggressive compression and noticeable loss of quality.

What is 'phantom power' (+48V) required for in recording?

Answer: Powering condenser microphones, which require voltage to operate their internal circuitry

Phantom power (+48V) is supplied through the XLR cable to power the internal circuitry and capsule of condenser microphones.

In audio editing, what does 'punch-in recording' allow you to do?

Answer: Record over a specific section of an existing track without affecting the rest

Punch-in recording lets you drop into record mode at a set point to replace a specific mistake while leaving the surrounding audio intact.

In spectral editing, what can an editor do that standard waveform editing cannot?

Answer: Remove or repair sounds at specific frequencies without affecting the rest of the audio

Spectral editing displays audio as a frequency vs. time spectrogram, allowing surgical removal of individual sounds like coughs or squeaks at their specific frequency and time location.

Which editing technique involves placing audio clips precisely on the grid to correct timing?

Answer: Quantization or grid-snap editing

Quantization snaps audio clips or MIDI notes to the nearest grid division, correcting timing inconsistencies relative to the tempo.

What does a 'high-pass filter' do to an audio signal?

Answer: Allows high frequencies to pass through while attenuating low frequencies

A high-pass filter (HPF) cuts frequencies below its cutoff point, letting high frequencies pass—useful for removing rumble or low-end noise.

What is the difference between 'destructive' and 'non-destructive' editing in audio software?

Answer: Destructive editing permanently alters the audio file on disk, while non-destructive editing stores instructions that reference the original unchanged file

Non-destructive editing keeps the original audio file untouched and records edits as metadata, meaning all changes can be undone; destructive editing overwrites the source file permanently.

What is the standard bit depth for CD-quality audio?

Answer: 16-bit

CD audio uses 16-bit depth, providing 65,536 possible amplitude values and approximately 96 dB of dynamic range.

What is 'automation' in the context of a digital audio workstation (DAW)?

Answer: The recording and playback of parameter changes (like volume or panning) over time within a project

Automation records movements of parameters such as faders, pan knobs, or plugin settings so that the DAW can reproduce those exact changes with perfect timing during playback.

What is 'bit depth' in digital audio and how does it affect recordings?

Answer: The number of bits per sample, which determines dynamic range and noise floor

Higher bit depth provides more amplitude resolution, resulting in lower noise floor and greater dynamic range; 24-bit (144 dB theoretical range) is standard in professional recording.

Which of the following audio formats supports Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoding?

Answer: MP3

MP3 supports VBR encoding, which allocates more bits to complex audio passages and fewer bits to simpler ones, optimizing quality and file size.

What does 'AAC' stand for in audio encoding?

Answer: Advanced Audio Coding

AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding, a lossy compression standard designed as a successor to MP3 with better quality at similar bit rates.

A particular kind of microphone that needs phantom power is a:

Answer: condenser microphone

Condenser microphones require external power, known as phantom power, to operate their internal active electronics and polarize their diaphragm. This power supply enables them to produce a strong output signal and capture a wider frequency response with greater sensitivity compared to dynamic microphones. Without phantom power, a condenser microphone will not function.

What is the role of a 'limiter' on a mix bus?

Answer: Prevents the output signal from exceeding 0 dBFS

A limiter on the mix bus acts as a ceiling, preventing digital clipping by capping peaks at 0 dBFS.

Which audio format uses lossy compression and is widely used for streaming music?

Answer: MP3

MP3 uses lossy compression, discarding inaudible frequencies to reduce file size, making it ideal for streaming.

When editing dialogue for a podcast, what is the best practice for handling an unwanted breath between words?

Answer: Reduce the breath's volume with clip gain or automation rather than deleting it entirely

Completely removing breaths sounds unnatural; reducing their level with volume automation or clip gain maintains a natural performance while controlling distracting sounds.

What is the effect of setting a compressor's 'release time' too short on a mix?

Answer: It can cause audible 'pumping' or 'breathing' as the gain rapidly recovers

A very short release causes the compressor to rapidly restore gain after each transient, creating an audible pumping artifact as the gain repeatedly surges and falls.

What does a 'de-esser' plugin specifically target?

Answer: Harsh sibilant frequencies (typically 5–10 kHz) in vocal recordings

A de-esser is a frequency-specific compressor that reduces harsh sibilant ('s', 'sh', 'ch') sounds in vocal recordings.